Rotating blade damper with blade lock and stop mechanism
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     This invention relates to a rotating blade damper for an air handling system. More particularly, this invention relates to a rotating blade fire or smoke damper with an improved mechanism for locking the blade of a single blade damper, or a blade of a multiple blade damper with position interlocked blades, in its closed, flow blocking position after the movement of the blade to such position due to a fire or other condition of excessive temperature. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,650,069 (Alley) describes a fire damper with a rotating blade. The rotating blade of the damper of this reference is normally held in an open, flow permitting position by a mechanism which includes a fusible link. The fusible link will fail in the event of a fire or other condition of excessive temperature, whereupon the blade will rotate to its closed, flow blocking position to prevent the passage of smoke through the duct in which the damper is placed. In the fire damper of this reference the blade is latched in its closed position by a latch mechanism which is carried by the blade and which is, therefore, exposed to the full effects of the high temperature condition within the duct. This can lead to warpage or other thermal damage to the latch mechanism, and it partly obstructs fluid flow through the damper when the blade is in its open position. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,338,967 (McCabe) discloses a multiple blade, rotating blade air, smoke or fire damper in which a double link, knee action joint mechanism retains each blade in its closed, flow blocking position. Each knee action joint is in an over center condition when the blade operated thereby is in its closed position. Such over center condition provides some slop in the position of the blade when it is closed, which permits the blade to back off slightly from its fully closed position. This condition can lead to smoke leakage past the blade and vibration or chattering of the blade within the damper. Further, the damper of this reference is motorized, and modern industrial or safety requirements often preclude the use of motorized fire dampers. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the present invention there is provided an improved, non-motorized blade stop and lock mechanism for a rotating blade damper such as a fire damper or a smoke damper. Dampers of this type may be used in ducts or in wall openings. The blade stop and lock mechanism of this invention provides a positive stop for the blade in its open position, and it locks the blade of a single blade damper, or a blade of a multiple blade damper with position interlocked blades, in its closed position. The stop and lock mechanism is located entirely within the damper frame and outside of the air flow path through the annulus that is defined by the frame. Thus, the blade stop and lock mechanism of this invention does not interfere with the flow of air through the damper and the associated duct or wall opening when the blade is in its open position, and it is shielded from direct exposure to the effects of a condition of excessive temperature within the duct or wall opening when such condition leads to a closing of the damper blade. Further, the stop and lock mechanism of this invention does not involve a double linkage, knee action joint which is characteristic of many prior art rotating blade lock or latch mechanisms, such as that of the aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 4,338,967. Thus, in a damper with a blade lock and stop mechanism according to the present invention, the blade, when closed, is held in its fully closed position, and it is not permitted to back off from such fully closed position as is the case with dampers such as that of the aforesaid U.S. Pat. No. 4,338,967. This is an attribute which substantially prevents smoke leakage past the closed blade and vibration or chattering of the closed blade within the damper. 
     Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved damper of the rotating blade type for use in a duct in an air handling system or in a wall opening. More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a damper of the rotating blade type with an improved mechanism for stopping and locking a blade of the damper in its closed, flow preventing position in the event of a condition of excessive temperature within the duct which includes such damper or adjacent to a wall having such damper in an opening therein, in the case of a damper incorporating a fusible link, or in response to a signal from a temperature or smoke sensing device near or remote from the damper in the case of a damper incorporating an ETL (electro thermal link) device, a solenoid release or a pressure operated release. 
     For a further understanding of the present invention and the objects thereof, attention is directed to the drawing and the following brief description thereof, to the detailed description of the preferred embodiment, and to the appended claims. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a single blade, rotating blade fire damper according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the blade of the damper being shown in its open, flow permitting position; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fire damper of FIG. 1 but with the blade being shown in its closed, flow blocking position; 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of a portion of the fire damper of FIGS. 1 and 2, in the position of the damper that is shown in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a multiple blade, rotating blade fire damper according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, with a portion of such damper being illustrated fragmentarily for the sake of clarity, the blades of such damper being illustrated in their closed positions; 
     FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view at an enlarged scale of a portion of the fire damper of FIG. 4; and 
     FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating an alternative embodiment of a rotating blade fire damper according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A single blade, rotating blade fire damper according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is indicated generally by reference numeral 10 in FIGS. 1-3. The damper 10 comprises a generally rectangular frame 12, which is made up of a pair of spaced apart, side members or jambs 14, 16 and a pair of spaced apart, top and bottom members 18, 20, respectively. The members 14, 16, 18, 20 are joined end-to-end to define a rectangular air flow opening 22 through the interior of the frame 12. The damper 10 is adapted to be positioned within an air flow duct, not shown, so that the opening 22 is in fluid communication with the air flow passage through the duct. Alternatively, the damper 10 is adapted to be positioned within the opening of a wall of an enclosure to control the flow of air into or out of the enclosure. 
     The damper 10 has a blade 24 positioned within the opening 10, the blade 24 being attached to spaced apart, transversely extending, co-axial rods 26, 28, the opposite ends of which extend through apertures 30, 32 in the side members 14, 16, respectively. The blade 24 is non-rotatably secured to the rods 26, 28, at a location approximately intermediate the opposed leading and trailing edges 24a, 24b, of the blade, respectively, but is rotatable with the rods 26, 28 relative to the frame 12 between an open, flow permitting position, as shown in FIG. 1, and a closed, flow blocking position, as shown in FIG. 2. Cylindrical members, not shown, are attached to the ends of the rods 26, 28. The cylindrical members are rotatable within the openings 30, 32, respectively, thereby permitting rotation of the blade 24 relative to the frame 12. As is clear from FIG. 2, the outline of the blade 24 substantially fills the opening 22 when the blade 24 is in its FIG. 2 position, other than for normal clearances which are necessary to permit motion between members that must move relative to one another. 
     As is shown in FIG. 1, the blade 24 is normally held in an open, flow permitting position by temperature sensitive means, such as a fusible link 34, one end, 34a of which is secured to an end of a strap 33, which is bent into a generally S shaped configuration in its cross-section. The other end of the strap 33 is secured to a slot 35 of the top member 18 of the frame 12. The other end, 34b, of the fusible link 34 is secured to an end of a second strap 37, which is also bent into a generally S shaped configuration in cross-section. The other end of the strap 37 is secured in a slot 41 in the blade 24. The fusible link 34 is constructed from a low melting point metal alloy and will fail if and when it is exposed to a condition of excessive temperature for more than a brief period of time, for example, in the case of a fire within the building where the damper 10 is installed. 
     Upon the failure of the fusible link 34, the blade 24 will move to its FIG. 2, closed position as hereinafter described, to thereby retard the circulation of smoke or heat from a fire from the location thereof to other parts of the building. The rotation of the blade 24 to its FIG. 2, closed position is accomplished by a spring, alone or in conjunction with gravity. For example, FIG. 3 illustrates a spring operated or spring assisted embodiment in which a link 36 is non-rotatably secured to the end of the rod 28, at a location outside of the side member 16. A double ended coil spring 38 has an end secured to the link 36 and its opposite end secured to the frame 12, illustratively to the bottom member 20. The spring 38 and the link 36 are positioned and connected to apply a turning force on the rod 28 which will rotate the blade 24 to its closed position upon the failure of the fusible link 34. FIG. 3 also illustrates a spiral spring 39 one end of which is restrained by the side member 16 and the other end of which is restrained by the link. The spiral spring 39 also urges the link 36 to the closed position. 
     While the operation of the damper 10 has been described as being subject to closing in the event of the failure of temperature sensitive means, it also contemplated that it can be made subject to closing under the control of smoke sensitive means such as a solenoid latch or an ETL (electro thermal link) device of the type sold by S&amp;R Products, Inc. of Mendenhall, Pa. The use of a pressure operated damper release, such as Kidde Model 1ND50DC, to release a fire suppressant such as Halon or CO 2  is also contemplated as a substitute for the fusible link 34. 
     The locking of the blade 24 in its FIG. 2 closed position, and the stopping of the blade 24 at a predetermined, FIG. 1, open position, is accomplished by a lock and stop mechanism, which is generally identified by reference numeral 40. The lock and stop mechanism 40 includes a disc segment 42, which is attached to the rod 26 at a location external to the side member 14 and which is rotatable with the rod 26. The lock and stop mechanism 40 further includes a slide plate 44 which is positioned between the side member 14 and the disc segment 42. The slide plate 44 is provided with an internal opening 46 therein, and the internal opening 46, which the end of the rod 26 passes through, is elongate to permit reciprocal movement of the slide plate 44 relative to the disc segment 42 and the rod 26. 
     The disc segment 42 has a radially outwardly projecting portion 42a and an arcuate portion 42b which leads away from the outwardly projecting portion 42a, which has an arcuate extent of approximately 90 degrees, and which is generally part circular with a center on the axis of rotation of the rod 26. This construction provides a radially extending stop surface 42c on the outwardly projecting portion 42a, and a second stop surface 42d on the back of the disc segment 42, away from the outwardly projecting portion 42a. The slide plate 44 has a central web portion 44a which extends parallel to the side member 14, a lower flange portion 44b which extends outwardly from the web portion 44a, and a partial upper flange portion 44c which extends outwardly from the web portion 44a but only partly thereacross. Thus, the upper flange portion 44c has a stop surface 44d which engages the stop surface 42c when the blade 24 is in its FIG. 1, open position, to ensure that the blade will be precisely positioned in its normal, flow permitting position. At this time the slide plate 44 is in its uppermost position, and is prevented from moving from such position, which could occur due to gravity, vibrations, or otherwise, by engagement between the underside of the upper flange 44c of the slide plate 44 and the top surface of the arcuate portion 42b of the disc segment 42. 
     Upon the failure of the fusible link 34, the blade 24 will rotate to separate the stop surface 42c from the stop surface 44d until such time as the end of the arcuate portion 42d clears the stop surface 44d. At this time the slide plate 44 will move relative to the rod 26 and the stop surface 44d of the slide plate 44 will engage the second stop surface 42d on the disc segment to securely lock the blade 24 in its FIG. 2, closed position. The movement of the slide plate 44 from its FIG. 1 position to its FIG. 2 position can be accomplished by gravity when the damper 10 is installed in a vertical orientation. An assist spring, not shown, can be provided to assist in such movement, and will be required if it is desired to install the damper 10 in a horizontal orientation. In the FIG. 2 position of the blade 24 it will not be subject to backing off from a fully closed position as in the case of dampers with double linkage, knee action joint lock mechanisms. Further, desirably the stop surface 42d has a slight taper outwardly from the stop surface 44d, which ensures that the forces acting on the slide plate will continuously serve to urge the blade 24 to a fully closed position. In any case, when the condition of excessive temperature which led to the closing of the damper 10 has abated, the damper 10 can be reopened by manually moving the slide plate 44 from its FIG. 2 position to its FIG. 1 position, whereupon the blade 24 can be manually rotated from its FIG. 2 position to its FIG. 1 position and retained in its FIG. 1 position by the installation of a replacement fusible link 34. A slot 48 is provided in the jamb 12 to permit the raising of the slide plate 44 by a tool, not shown, from its FIG. 2 position to its FIG. 1 position, as part of the reopening procedure. This will eliminate the need to remove the damper 10 from its duct or wall opening to permit the raising of the slide plate 44, or the need for providing other, less convenient access to the slide plate 44. 
     A multiple blade, rotating blade fire damper according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is indicated generally by reference numeral 50 in FIG. 4. The damper 50, which is of the face mounted linkage type, comprises a generally rectangular frame 52, which is made up of a pair of spaced apart, side members or jambs 54, 56 and a pair of spaced apart, top and bottom members 58, 60, respectively. The members 54, 56, 58, 60 are joined end-to-end to define a rectangular air flow opening 62 through the interior of the frame 52. The damper 50 is adapted to be positioned within an air flow duct, not shown, so that the opening 62 is in fluid communication with the air flow passage through the duct. Alternatively, the damper 50 is adapted to be positioned within the opening of a wall of an enclosure to control the flow of air into or out of the enclosure. 
     The damper 50 has a multiplicity of blades positioned within the opening 62, illustratively four (4) of such blades, namely blades 64-1, 64-2, 64-3, and 64-4, respectively, although it is to be understood that a greater or lesser number of such blades can be used. Each of the blades 64-1, 64-2, 64-3, 64-4 is attached to transversely extending rod means 66-1, 66-2, 66-3, 66-4, respectively, each of which extends through apertures, not identified, in the side members 54, 56. Each of the blades 64-1, 64-2, 64-3, 64-4 is non-rotatably secured to its rod means 66-1. 66-2, 66-3, 66-4, respectively, at a location approximately intermediate its leading and trailing edges. Further, each of the blades 64-1, 64-2, 64-3, 64-4 is rotatable with its rod means 66-1, 66-2, 66-3, 66-4, respectively, relative to the frame 52 between a closed, flow blocking position, as shown in FIG. 4, and an open, flow permitting position, not shown, in which each of the blades 64-1 through 64-4 extends at approximately a right angle to its position in FIG. 4. As is shown in FIG. 4, the rod means 66-1 through 66-4 are spaced approximately equidistantly from one another and their axes are substantially parallel and substantially co-planar. However, the rod means 66-1 through 66-4 do not necessarily need to be spaced equidistantly from one another, as blades of different widths and axial spacings can be used in a single, multiple blade damper of the in jamb linkage type to permit standardization on a finite number of damper blade widths. 
     As is shown in FIG. 5, one of the blades 64-1 through 64-4, shown as the blade 64-1, is held in an open, flow permitting position by temperature or smoke sensitive means, for example, by temperature sensitive means such as a fusible link 74, one end of which, 74a, is secured to an end of an S shaped strap 73. The other end of the strap 73 is secured to a slot 75 of the top member 58 of the frame 12. The other end, 74b, of the fusible link 74 is secured to an end of a second S shaped strap 77, and the other end of the strap 77 is secured in a slot 79 in the blade 64-1. 
     As is clear from FIG. 4, the tips of the blades 64-1 through 64-4 overlap each other in the FIG. 4, closed positions of the blades, and in such positions of the blades 64-1 through 64-4 collectively they substantially fill the opening 62, other than for normal clearances which are necessary to permit motion between members that must move relative to one another. Each of the blades 64-1 through 64-4 is connected to a link bar 68 by a blade bracket 69-1, 69-2, 69-3, 69-4, respectively. Thus, by the reciprocation of the link bar 68 the blades 64-1 through 64-4 are caused to oscillate in unison between their FIG. 4, closed positions and their open positions. The link bar 68 is normally held in a position where each of the blades 64-1 through 64-4 is in its open, flow permitting position by the effect of the fusible link 74 on the blade 64-1, and is resiliently biased to a position where each of the blades 64-1 through 64-4 is in its FIG. 4, closed, flow blocking position by a spring or other resilient means, not shown, or by gravity in a vertical installation of the damper 50. 
     The locking of each of the blades 64-1 through 64-4 in its FIG. 4 closed position, and the stopping of each of the blades 64-1 through 64-4 at a predetermined, open position, is accomplished by a lock and stop mechanism, which is generally identified by reference numeral 80. The lock and stop mechanism 80 includes a disc segment 82 which is attached to one of the rod means 66-1 through 64-4, shown as the rod means 66-4, at a location external to the side member 54 and which is rotatable with the rod means 66-4. The lock and stop mechanism 80 further includes a slide plate 84 which is positioned between the side member 54 and the disc segment 82. The disc segment 82 and the slide plate 84 correspond in design and function to the disc segment 42 and the slide plate 44, respectively, of the lock and stop mechanism 40 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-3. Thus, in the event of a fire and the closing of the blades 64-1 through 64-4, the lock and stop mechanism 80 will securely hold each of the blades 64-1 through 64-4 in their closed positions until the damper 50 is manually reopened and reset. 
     A multiple blade, rotating blade fire damper according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention is indicated generally by reference numeral 150 in FIG. 6. The damper 150 generally corresponds to the damper 50, and to the extent that it does the same numerals are used to identify the elements of the damper 150 which correspond to the elements of the damper 50. 
     The main difference between the damper 150 and the damper 50 is that the damper 150 incorporates a lock and stop mechanism, which is indicated generally by reference numeral 180, and which is positioned away from the damper 150 rather than at the damper as in the case of the position of the lock and stop mechanism 80 in relation to the damper 50. Thus, the lock and stop mechanism 180 includes a disc segment 182 which is attached to a separate rod 186 rather than to one of the rods 66-1 through 66-4, and a framework extension 188 to the damper 150 is provided to rotatably position the rod 186 away from the vertical plane which extends through the rods 66-1 through 66-4, in the orientation of the damper 150 which is depicted in FIG. 6. The lock and stop mechanism 180 further includes a slide plate 184, which functions in cooperation with the disc segment 182 in the same manner as the slide plate 84 and the disc segment 82 of the embodiment of FIG. 4 function in cooperation with one another, as heretofore described. 
     The rotation of the rod 186 is translated to the rods 66-1 through 66-4 by linkage means 190. The linkage means 190 includes a first link 192 an end of which is non-rotatably secured to the rod 186 and a second link 194, an end of which is pivotally secured to the other end of the first link 192. In turn, the other end of the second link 194 is attached to one or another of the blade brackets 69-1 through 69-4, shown as the blade bracket 69-4. Thus, when the rod 186 is in a first position, as determined by the relative positions of the disc segment 182 and the slide plate 184, the blades 64-1 through 64-4 of the damper 150 are open to flow, and when the rod 186 is in its second position, again, based on the relative positions of the disc segment 182 and the slide plate 184, the blades 64-1 through 64-4 of the damper 150 are closed to flow. The remote positioning of the lock and stop mechanism 180 relative to the damper 150 is also applicable to a single blade damper of the type illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. 
     Although the best mode contemplated by the inventor for carrying out the present invention as of the filing date hereof has been shown and described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that suitable modifications, variations, and equivalents may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, such scope being limited solely by the terms of the following claims.